Who is Eligible?

WIC serves lower-income pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding women, infants, and children under age 5 who have health or nutrition risks. Many working families are part of WIC.

You must meet four criteria to be eligible for WIC:

• Live in Wisconsin.
• Be a pregnant, breastfeeding or new mother, be an infant up to age one, or be a child up to age 5.
• Have a health or nutrition need.
• Be income eligible.

Not sure if you qualify? You may qualify if anyone in your family is receiving FoodShare, Medicaid, BadgerCare Plus, Wisconsin Works Program (W2), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).

Dads, grandparents, and other caregivers of children under the age of 5 may also sign up kids for WIC.

Foster children and Kinship Care recipients under age 5, and foster teens who are pregnant are eligible for WIC.

WIC Income Guidelines

July 1, 2019–June 30, 2020

WIC income eligibility is based on 185% of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines, which is the same criteria as free and reduced-price school lunch.

For specific income levels by household size, consult the WIC income eligibility table below.

Household:

A person or group of people, related or not, who usually (though not necessarily) live together and whose income and consumption of goods and services are related.

Income:

All sources of gross income, including overtime, in the household before any deductions are made. This also includes, but is not limited to, child support, unemployment, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.

Employer Statement Form, F-40076 (Multiple Languages) may be filled out and submitted to WIC as a proof of income for employees who do not receive a paycheck stub.

For more information about income eligibility, contact a local WIC Office.

First Appointment

If you think you qualify for WIC, want more information, or have questions regarding eligibility, contact a local WIC Office.

The information below will help you prepare for your first WIC appointment.

Please bring the following items to your appointment:

• Proof of identity (I.D.) for yourself and each child to be certified, such as a driver’s license, birth certificate, military identification, tribal identification card, alien card, passport, hospital identification/confirmation of birth (which may include hospital discharge papers, crib card, or wrist band) or passport. If you cannot bring one of these forms of ID, the clinic can explain other acceptable forms of I.D.
• Proof of address, such as a current utility bill with a street address (no P.O. boxes), rent or mortgage receipt. This is to verify you live in Wisconsin.
• Proof of income, such as a letter showing participation in FoodShare, Wisconsin Works Program (W2), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Kinship Care, or Foster Care. If a family member does not participate in one of these programs, bring proof of all sources of income for the household for the last 30 days, including pay stubs (if you get paid weekly, bring four pay stubs; if you get paid bi-weekly, bring two pay stubs; if you get paid monthly, bring one pay stub). You must also bring proof of income from Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), unemployment compensation, and child support.
• Confirmation of your pregnancy, if you are expecting. This may include a statement from your health care provider or an ultrasound including the applicant’s name and date. Home pregnancy tests are not allowed.
• Don’t forget to bring your children to be certified!

You will be asked to identify your race and ethnicity. This information is for record keeping purposes only and does not affect your eligibility.

WIC will not ask about your immigration status. You do not need to be a legal resident of the United States to participate in WIC and receive food benefits.

Information shared with the WIC clinic staff is kept confidential.

At the clinic trained WIC staff will conduct a health and nutrition screening for all family members applying for WIC. This will include height and weight measurements and may include a finger stick blood test to check the level of iron in your blood. The WIC staff will ask questions and discuss your health and nutrition. At the end of this appointment you will be told if you and your children are eligible for WIC services.

If you are eligible, you will receive an eWIC card to purchase specific healthy foods at the grocery store.

You will continue to have appointments at the WIC clinic about every three months to receive nutrition education, relevant health care referrals, and more food benefits.

Last Revised: September 12, 2018